Difference between revisions of "Candelaria And Marquez national football team"

Revision as of 11:28, 3 October 2007

Candelaria And Marquez National Football Team

Nickname	Big Blues
Association	C&M Association Football Association
Coach	Mark Baker
Asst Coaches	Ricardo Garcia Steve Loovens Elroy Ergin
Captain	Benji Fu
Most caps	Reuben Uwakwe, Benji Fu (37)
Top scorer	Steven Fritz (13)
Home Stadium	Millerman Sheppard Stadium, Albrecht
First international The Candelarias 0 - 13 Northern Ireland (Albrecht, Candelaria; 30 November, 1907)
First competitive international C&M 2 - 0 Vephrall (Limassol Memorial, The Lowland Clans, BoF QFs)
Largest competitive win C&M 4 - 0 Sorthern Northland (MSS, Albrecht, WC 36 Qualifying)
Worst competitive defeat C&M 0 - 4 Az-cz (MSS, Albrecht, WC 36 Qualifying)
KPB Ranking 40
World Cup
Appearances	World Cup 36 and 37 (Qualifying)

Overview

Despite the enduring popularity of the sport in the islands, C&M has never been able to claim a national football team to rave about. The unstable nature of the domestic league made maintaining a competitive national side extremely difficult. Over the years, many of the country's better players chose to make their livings on far-off shores, and though such names as Rastus Lord, Bill Peters and Tom McIndoe are fondly remembered, they played few matches of consequence for their country. The national side's chances were also damaged by the relative lack of public support, with many potential fans preferring to shout for nations representing their ancestral homelands.

After the re-vitalisation of the domestic league as the CMSC, and in an effort to avoid talented C&M-born players attracting the interest of foreign clubs, the national team was scrapped. This status was only revoked in January 2006, following which the Minister for Sport, Tatulya Samed, underlined the government's support for the national team, it's entry into larger tournaments and attempts to secure more high-profile friendly games. The country duly entered World Cup 36, the preceeding Baptism of Fire, and following Cup of Harmony. Mark Baker's squad has rapidly become know for their mean defence and wasteful attack.

For reasons unknown, but probably involving Quantum, C&M players age just two years between World Cups.

Playing history

Baptism of Fire (World Cup 36)

The pre- World Cup 36 'BoF' had an unusual format, involving seven 'challenges' in its group stage rather than full games. The inexperienced side duly found themselves trying to make passes on a damaged pitch against Thelema Abbey; and went on to face Kilmarnockshire (twice), ARealAdvance and Kansiov (twice), in similarly odd contests. C&M 'won' all of these, leaving them second in their Group behind Daehanjeiguk, who also had a 100% record but a superior 'points difference'.

C&M played their first ever competitive game in the competition's Quarter-Finals, a 2-0 victory over Vephrall, but went on to go out on penalties to the Han after a 3-3 draw.

World Cup 36 Qualifiers

C&M were placed in Group 7, finishing fourth. The side achieved notable early draws against Qazox and Zwangzug, and would go on to finish the 'best of the rest' in a difficult group. A highlite was the 4-0 demolition of Sorthern Northland, coming a short time after C&M themselves were subjected to the same scoreline; at home to Az-cz.

Cup of Harmony 28

C&M won their group with a win and two draws, but went on to loose to hosts Kura-Pelland in the Quarter-Finals. The Big Blues' progress was to some degree overshadowed by the disapearance, imprisonment on abduction and public order offences, and subsequent utter disapearance from his holding cell, of back-up right-back Lan Albret.

World Cup 37 Qualifiers

C&M were placed in group 4, finishing third. They gained notable victories over Qazox and Yafor 2, both recent World Cup sides, but were let down by home draws to Kelssek and Rastafariburg. The major feature however was the team's remarkably tight defence, with only Bettia conceeding less during the whole of qualifying, and relative lack of goals scored. They were drawn against Dance 2 Revolution in the play-offs; loosing 1-0 on aggregate to the reigning Cup of Harmony holders and former World Cup finalists.

Coach

Mark Baker resigned from Albrecht Turks to take the role full-time half way through C&M's World Cup 36 qualifying campaign.

Players

Current squad

All stats refer to games at the Baptism of Fire, World Cup Qualifying, Cups of Harmony, and WCC-sanctioned friendlies.

Former Players (Modern Era)

Noted Past Players

Millerman Sheppard is by some distance the country's most famous historical player, as a striker for Albrecht FC and Arrigo Portuguese FC and later as manager of Albrecht Turkish. After him though, you're struggling frankly.

Youth Teams

Main article(s): Candelaria And Marquez National Under-21 Football Team

External Links

Match-By-Match History
Current squad